Novel complexes of polyoxazolines or polyoxazines and halogens, interhalogens or pseudohalogens and process for preparing same

Abstract

Novel solid complexes of 2-oxazoline and 2-oxazine polymers and halogens, interhalogens or pseudo-halogens are prepared by contacting a poly-2-oxazoline or poly-2-oxazine whose backbone comprises a plurality of ring-opened units of an oxazoline or oxazine monomer of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R and R 1 -R 4 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, phenyl or inertly-substituted phenyl and n is zero or one with a halogen, interhalogen or pseudo-halogen. The complexes are soluble in a variety of conventional solvents (e.g., water, methylene chloride, acetonitrile, methanol, tetrahydrofuran and isopropanol).

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for sanitizing or disinfecting a substrate contaminated with microorganisms comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous solution of a solid complex comprising (a) a poly-2-oxazoline or poly-2-oxazine, and (b) a halogen, selected from the group consisting of bromine and iodine. 
     
     
       2. The process defined by claim 1 wherein said solution is a solution of a complex comprising poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and iodine. 
     
     
       3. The process defined by claim 2 wherein said solution contains at least 40 ppm of a solid complex comprising poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and iodine having a molar ratio of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline monomer to iodine in a range of from 2:1 to about 10:1. 
     
     
       4. A process for sanitizing or disinfecting a substrate contaminated with microorganisms comprising contacting said substrate with an aqueous solution of a solid complex comprising (a) a poly-2-oxazoline or poly-2-oxazine, and (b) an interhalogen. 
     
     
       5. The process defined by claim 4 wherein said solution is a solution of a solid complex wherein (a) is poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and (b) is an interhalogen corresponding to the formula XX n  ', wherein X and X' are Cl, Br or I, n is an odd numbered integer greater than or equal to one and X' is the lighter halogen atom when n is greater than one. 
     
     
       6. The process defined by claim 5 wherein said solution is a solution of a solid complex comprising poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline and bromine chloride.